Process for casting cannon



R. I. MACDERMOTT.

PROCESS FORCASTING CANNON.

APPLICATION EILED ocT.7,1918.

1,333,593. Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. l. MACDERMOTT.

PROCESS FOR CASTING CANNON.

APPLICATION. FILED OCT. 7. 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

A'. lf Q.

1,333,593. .Pjymg wir/v5 s s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROGER J'. MACDERMOTT, OF SAN FRANCISCO- CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNA- TIONAL` STEEL CORPORATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION 0F ARIZONA.

PROCESS FOR CASTING CANNONz Application 1ed October 7, 1918.

To all wlw-m t may concern: y

Be it known that I, ROGER J. MAGDERMOTT, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Benicia, in the county of Solano and State of California; have invented a new and useful Improvement in Processes for Casting Cannon, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a process for cast-ing cannon and the like wherein a lateral binder in the shape of tubes is cast within the cannon and operates to reinforce the same against lateral strain.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved processl for casting cannon and the like whereby a cheaper material may be utilized than heretofore practicable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved means for producing cannon and the like adapted to effect a saving of time as well as more expensive material used in the construction thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cast cannon having lateral binders cast integral with the body of the cannon to assist in resisting lateral strains caused by the rapid expansion of combusted gases therein.

I accomplish these several features by means of the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present specification wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout said specification and drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a chill mold of any number of parts design or pattern prepared for casting a cannon in accordance with my improved process;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a finished product;

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view of a completed product; and

Fig. 4f is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4.-i of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated.

Referring to the dra-wings the numeral 1 is used to designate a chill mold having a hollow core of successively reduced portions 2 to form a cannon whose diameter will diminish in diameter from the breech to the muzzle thereof.

Arranged at the top of the uppermost and largest core 2 is an enlarged portion 3 to serve as a reservoir for molten metal the purpose of which will khereinafter be more fully described.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Serial No. 257,294.

A'icross the top of the reservoir 3 I have placed a suitable heatj insulating cover 4 to prevent theA too rapid cooling of the molten metal within the mold.

.i ust belov-.fv the cover 4; in the reservoir 3 I have provided a bar 5 arranged to secure in position several tubes hereinafter described.

In the practice of my process a rifled tube t3 is first placed concentric within the mold 1 to form a core for said mold l and also to serve as an inner sleeve or rifled barrel for the `Finished product.

Surrounding the tube 6 I next place in position nested perforated tubes 7 arranged in spaced relation to the core or tube 6 and to each other thereby providing a series of concentric channels through which molten metal may be poured.

The tubes 6 and 7 are held in concentric position at their upper ends by means of the bar 5, while the tubes are held concentrically in the mold l at their lower ends by means of rings 8 placed between the tubes.

In the case of cannons of larger and heavier caliber I place additional reinforcement in the shape of two imperforate tubes 9 and 10 of different lengths, the shorter one 10 preferably on the outer side so as to fill the space formed by the larger diameter or breech portion of the finished product.

The next step in the process is to pour molten metal into the space between the tube 6 and the chill mold 1 which metal is preferably poured between the two tubes 7 so as to prevent splashing of the molten metal while being poured7 said tubes 7 serving as a conduit or conveyer of such dimensions as will readily prevent splashing.

The metal flows through the apertures or perforations within the tubes 7 and fills the entire mold and the reservoir 3. This surplus metal within the reservoir increases the static pressure of the molten metal so that all portions of the mold will be properly filled.

It has the further advantage that as the smaller mass of molten metal near the lower portion of the mold will cool more rapidly and thereby shrink the upper and more slowly cooling portion of metal will be fed from the molten metal in the reservoir thereby providing the full quantity of metal required to produce a proper casting.

While the metal is still in a molten state the tubes 7 may be agitated laterally or longitudinally by any suitable means attached =to said `tubes to. anueal and solidify the cooling metal and thereby impart greater Vstrength to the finished product. Y. f'

the cannon it Visrobvious that' the shrinkage caused by the coolingof thekpoured metal will cause the riiied center or barrel 6 and the tubes 7 to be securely embraced yand se-' cured yto thebody, of the finishedY product;V Y

The machine Workrequired in rifling the' core'orbore may be performed previously or subsequently to the casting of the cannon. c

l Having thus described my invention-What ly claim las new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is Y' A Y l. The process of casting cannon and the like which consists in rst placing a core or chill within a mold vto form. an vannular channel, then placing perforated tubes Within the channel and in spaced relation to the core Vor chill and yto each otherfand then pouring molten metalwithin the mold whereby said tubes may be inclosed` Within the casting. l Y Y Y 'Y 2. The step in the process-ofcasting 'cannonr and the like whichV consists in placing perforated nested tubes Within a cannon mold whereby said tubes maybe cast Within the cannon. I f

3. The'process of casting cannon .and ythe like which consists vin first placing a rified tube Within a suitable moldto form a central core for said lmold,then placing perforated nested tubes around said coreand in spaced relation thereto-and to each other,Y and then pouring molten nietal `into the mold to cast the tubes withinthe-cannon. l

4. The process of casting cannon and the like' vhich consists in first yplacing 4a'rifled barrel Within a `chill mold5'having a series lof successive reduced portions, to form a central core therefor, then placing` nested perforated tubes Within the moldin spaced relation to-the zco'reand to each other to form -a series of :concentric ychannels surrounding the core, then .pouring molten metal into the channels thus formed'to cast which consistsein first placing a Vcentral 6,Theprocess of-casting cannon which consists in first placing a rifled vcentral tube Within a' chill mold, having a series of successive reduced portions, to form a central core therefor, then-placing nested. perforated tubes between the core and the mold and in spaced relation to said core and to each other, then placing tubes of different lengths in thelarger portions of the mold in spaced relation to eachV other, and then pouring moltenrmetal' in the mold to cast the tubes into a finished cannon.- l y In" AWitness'Whereof, I hereunto set my signature. Y'

Rosan J'..MACDERMoTfr. 

